Interplay of Threat, Efficacy, and Uncertainty in Cancer News Coverage: Analysis of News Content and Effects in South Korea

초록

This research presents findings from two studies that examine portrayal of threat, efficacy, and uncertainty in cancer news stories, and investigate the effects of variations in a combination of news content on perceived risk, perceived efficacy, and behavioral intentions. Study 1 analyzed the content of cancer news, using a representative sample (N = 1,438) of television, newspapers, and other news media in South Korea over a five-year period. Study 2 examined the effects of exposure to a cancer news story, conducting an experiment with Korean adults (N = 717). Study 1 demonstrated that threat was more prevalent than efficacy in cancer news coverage. Uncertainty information was much less frequent, and when included, it was more about threat uncertainty than efficacy uncertainty. Study 2 showed that a high threat, high efficacy story led to higher levels of perceived efficacy and intention for preventive behaviors than did a low threat, low efficacy story. However, adding efficacy-related uncertainty nullified the beneficial effects of the high threat, high efficacy information whereas the impact of threat-related uncertainty was not significant. The theoretical and practical implications based on the results are further discussed.

키워드